https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jasper-scherer/The latest news by Jasper Scherer.enThu, 30 May 2024 16:06:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/30/shelby-slawson-dade-phelan-texas-speaker/The announcement came two days after Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, narrowly survived a runoff challenge from the GOP’s hard right.By Jasper SchererThu, 30 May 2024 16:06:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/30/shelby-slawson-dade-phelan-texas-speaker/State Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, moves to final passage her bill that would ban abortion procedures at six weeks among other strict limitations, on May 6, 2021.State Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, moves to final passage her bill that would ban abortion procedures at six weeks among other strict limitations, on May 6, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/30/texas-house-republican-primary-runoff-speaker-dade-phelan/Neither of the Texas GOP’s dueling factions landed a clean knockout blow during a grueling primary season that only seemed to set up further chaos and strife.By Jasper SchererThu, 30 May 2024 15:31:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/30/texas-house-republican-primary-runoff-speaker-dade-phelan/State Rep. Greg Bonnen and his wife Kim Bonnen on the House floor during Sine Die, the last day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.State Rep. Greg Bonnen and his wife Kim Bonnen on the House floor during Sine Die, the last day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/23/shawn-thierry-lauren-simmons-texas-house-democrats/The Simmons-Thierry contest emerged as a test of whether Democratic lawmakers who do not fully support LGBTQ+ causes can remain in good standing with their own party’s voters.By Jasper SchererTue, 28 May 2024 23:12:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/23/shawn-thierry-lauren-simmons-texas-house-democrats/Lauren Ashley Simmons talks with volunteers before block walking on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in the Meyerland neighborhood of HoustonLauren Ashley Simmons talks with volunteers before block walking on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in the Meyerland neighborhood of Houston.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/28/texas-primary-runoff-school-vouchers-abbott/Six of eight GOP incumbents lost their races. Gov. Greg Abbott declared he “now has enough votes to pass school choice.”By Jasper SchererTue, 28 May 2024 20:40:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/28/texas-primary-runoff-school-vouchers-abbott/Members vote to approve an anti-voucher amendment brought by state rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, during a marathon session on the House floor on April 06, 2023.Members vote to approve an anti-voucher amendment brought by state rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, during a marathon session on the House floor to approve HB-1 at the Capitol in Austin on April 06, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/28/texas-election-primary-runoff/Texans are heading to the polls Tuesday to make their final selections for which Democrats and Republicans will run for various seats in the November election.By Jasper Scherer, Zach Despart and Matthew ChoiTue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/28/texas-election-primary-runoff/House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, surveys the chamber during a break in the action on May 11, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, surveys the chamber during a break in the action on deadline day May 11, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/dade-phelan-miriam-adelson-casino-runoff-primary/Incumbents saw key support from the business community, while hardline conservatives like Tim Dunn also spent heavily.By Jasper SchererTue, 21 May 2024 16:34:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/dade-phelan-miriam-adelson-casino-runoff-primary/David Covey and Dade Phelan.David Covey and Dade Phelan.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker-runoff-republicans/Phelan’s primary has emerged as a last stand for the Republican Party’s business-minded establishment against an insurgency primarily motivated by social and cultural issues.By Jasper Scherer and Zach DespartTue, 21 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/dade-phelan-texas-house-speaker-runoff-republicans/Dade Phelan addresses the floor after being elected for his second term as House speaker on on Jan 10, 2023.Dade Phelan addresses the floor after being elected for his second term as Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 88th legislature on Jan 10, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/20/donald-trump-ken-paxton-attorney-general/Trump told a reporter in Texas this weekend that Paxton is “a very talented guy.”By Jasper SchererMon, 20 May 2024 08:47:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/20/donald-trump-ken-paxton-attorney-general/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/14/shawn-thierry-lauren-simmons-texas-democrats-house/Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Dallas Democrat who previously served in the Texas House with Thierry, spoke at a campaign event where she condemned her former colleague.By Jasper SchererTue, 14 May 2024 11:54:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/14/shawn-thierry-lauren-simmons-texas-democrats-house/Shawn Thierry and Lauren Ashley Simmons.Shawn Thierry and Lauren Ashley Simmons.Mark Felix and Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/09/henry-cuellar-political-consultants-plea-deal-guilty/The Laredo Democrat faces federal charges of bribery, money laundering and working on behalf of a foreign government.By Jasper SchererThu, 09 May 2024 12:33:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/09/henry-cuellar-political-consultants-plea-deal-guilty/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/09/katrina-pierson-trump-texas-house-justin-holland/Ahead of the primary, Pierson lacked endorsements from Gov. Greg Abbott, former President Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, each of whom backed pro-voucher challengers in a number of other House contests.By Jasper SchererThu, 09 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/09/katrina-pierson-trump-texas-house-justin-holland/Katrina Pierson, who was at the time former President Donald Trump's 2020 Senior Campaign Adviser, greets the crowd during a Women for Trump Holiday Celebration at the Holiday Inn Tyler Conference Center in Tyler. Dec. 10, 2019.President Donald Trump's 2020 Senior Campaign Adviser Katrina Pierson greets the crowd during a Women for Trump Holiday Celebration at the Holiday Inn Tyler Conference Center in Tyler. Dec. 10, 2019.Cara Campbell for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/04/texas-elections-2024-special-senate-district-15-harris-county-houston/Cook will fill John Whitmire’s unexpired term — but will face Johnson again in a Democratic primary runoff for a full four-year term.By Jasper SchererSat, 04 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/04/texas-elections-2024-special-senate-district-15-harris-county-houston/Molly Cook, an emergency room nurse, is running for Texas Senate District 15.Molly Cook, an emergency room nurse, is running for Texas Senate District 15.Molly Cook for Texas Senatehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/01/jarvis-johnson-molly-cook-texas-senate-election/State Rep. Jarvis Johnson and emergency room nurse Molly Cook are duking it out in a sleepy special election to briefly occupy the seat vacated when Whitmire was elected mayor.By Jasper SchererWed, 01 May 2024 11:28:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/01/jarvis-johnson-molly-cook-texas-senate-election/Molly Cook, an emergency room nurse, and state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston, are facing facing each other in a special election to replace former state Sen. and Houston Mayor John Whitmire in Senate District 15.Molly Cook, an emergency room nurse, and state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston, are facing facing each other in a special election to replace former state Sen. and Houston Mayor John Whitmire in Senate District 15.Campaign websiteshttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/greg-abbott-trans-teachers-texas/Abbott made the remarks as he recounted the story of a male teacher in North Texas who wore a pink dress for his school’s spirit day earlier this year.By Jasper SchererWed, 24 Apr 2024 13:47:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/greg-abbott-trans-teachers-texas/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during the opening keynote lunch at the Texas Public Policy Foundation Texas Policy Summit 2024 in Austin on March 20, 2024.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during the opening keynote lunch at the Texas Public Policy Foundation Texas Policy Summit 2024 in Austin on March 20, 2024. Gov. Abbott spoke about border security and cartels, school choice for parents of Texas children and the ban of DEI at Texas universities. Maria Crane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/texas-senate-runoff-brent-hagenbuch-jace-yarbrough/The battle to succeed retiring state Sen. Drew Springer has come down to a May 28 runoff between Brent Hagenbuch and Jace Yarbrough.By Jasper SchererWed, 24 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/texas-senate-runoff-brent-hagenbuch-jace-yarbrough/From left: Brent Hagenbuch and Jace Yarbrough will face each other in the runoff to replace retiring state Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster.From left: Brent Hagenbuch and Jace Yarbrough will face each other in the runoff to replace retiring state Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster.Campaign websiteshttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/texas-house-speaker-contract/The two dozen Republican signatories called on the next House leader to commit to their list of conservative demands that served as a repudiation of Speaker Dade Phelan.By Jasper SchererTue, 09 Apr 2024 13:16:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/texas-house-speaker-contract/An empty House chamber, prior the start of the special session on Thursday, July 8, 2021.An empty House chamber, prior the start of the special session on Thursday, July 8, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/04/tim-dunn-joe-straus-christian-texas/Straus, who is Jewish, publicly confirmed the conversation for the first time Thursday. It had previously been reported by Texas Monthly.By Jasper Scherer and Robert DownenThu, 04 Apr 2024 15:43:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/04/tim-dunn-joe-straus-christian-texas/Joe Straus speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 25, 2022.Sandi Villarreal, deputy editor for digital at Texas Monthly, moderates a panel with US Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and former speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, 2022 in Austin, TX.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/01/dade-phelan-border-immigration-primary/The Beaumont Republican’s foes are trying to paint him as soft on the border, even after last year’s passage of far-reaching laws and record border funding.By Jasper SchererMon, 01 Apr 2024 16:56:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/01/dade-phelan-border-immigration-primary/Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, at a press conference at the Capitol on Nov. 4, 2020. Phelan was the first sitting Texas House speaker forced into a runoff for his House seat in more than 50 years.State Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, announces he has the votes to be elected the next speaker of the Texas House at a press conference at the Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/28/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton/With his impeachment and securities fraud case behind him, Paxton’s political stock is on the rise.By Jasper SchererThu, 28 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/28/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton endorses David Covey at an event in Beaumont on Monday, Jan 15, 2024.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton endorses David Covey at an event in Beaumont on Monday, Jan 15, 2024. Covey is running against House Speaker Dade Phelan in the Republican primary.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/25/ken-paxton-plea-deal-securities-fraud-felony/Paxton, who will not have to enter a plea under the terms of the agreement, faced the prospect of decades in prison if he had been convicted of fraud.By Jasper SchererTue, 26 Mar 2024 09:13:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/25/ken-paxton-plea-deal-securities-fraud-felony/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton enters the 185th Criminal District court at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center for a pretrial hearing Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Houston.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton enters the 185th Criminal District court at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center for his pretrial hearing March 26, 2024, in Houston.Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune